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etcelsior2016-01-23 06:21 pm
maskormods) wrote in etcelsior2016-01-23 06:21 pm
Entry tags:
MOM CAN YOU DROP ME OFF? (IN RUSSIA?)
TEST DRIVE MEME
Considering apping into MASK OR MENACE? Want to dip your toes into the setting and get a feel of whether your character will fit into it? Or maybe you're just cruising and want to play around? Then you've come to the right place! If you'd like, take a look at our ATP post!
Pick any of the following scenarios below or feel free to make up your own, but don't be afraid to throw yourself at someone else's thread, either!
And remember to have fun!01. The city of Heropa is what one might expect from a small, bright and cheery place. The locals are friendly enough and local shop owners might offer a free drink to welcome you to their fair city. Some of the locals might thank you for always lending your service to the nation and others might not say anything. In fact, some people might back away from any imPort who quite obviously looks like they aren't from around the neighborhood. Once in a while there's a look of disdain on someone's face and hushed voices. A snippy voice wonders aloud: "My taxes are going to their parties and other expenses? When are they going to do something for us for a change? Why if they weren't around, I bet the Soviets--" These naysayers may, however, find themselves hushed with a judgmental: "You couldn't do what they do even if you had powers. They don't have to help us, you know!"
02. De Chima, Virginia, is a large city with a healthy economy, and though it's quieter, there are just as many citizens awed at your presence. Heavy winds have people grasping at their newspapers and constantly brushing hair out of their faces, but that doesn't distract them from crowding you in excitement if you're obviously from a different time or world, or just let it slip that you're a newcomer. Children and young teenagers are especially likely to ask for an autograph and a photo.
Some locals seem less enthused to see you. They never make an approach, but they can be overheard scoffing and muttering something about cameras and an incident involving gas. "Biological warfare... we sure some of them haven't defected?"
03. Maurtia Falls, Pennsylvania, is normally known for being a little more on the apathetic side, but there's been tension in the atmosphere lately, contrasted by headlines broadcasting petty, unimportant local news and no worldly news.
People are not as friendly in this city and go out of their way to avoid walking down the same sidewalk as the more obvious looking imPorts pass through. Local cops say nothing, but they scowl at those imPorts and mutter under their breaths resentfully about "vigilantes". However, not all locals turn the other way seeing imPorts; some of them will offer a polite enough smile and thank them for their hard work. They don't stop to clarify what they mean, though.
04. Nonah, North Carolina, is the liveliest of all cities. It's loud, busy and there's some kind of energy in the air that gets everyone buzzing with excitement. Anyone who they come to determine an imPort is bombarded with all sorts of offers; job offers, advertising gigs, spokesperson for advocating children stay in school, etc. Anything and everything! You name it. Shops offer discounts for food and clothing, whatever they need. Advertisements are abound for imPorts to make appearances at various, televised celebrations, luring them in with promises of free food, merchandise, and payment. ImPort action figures and merchandise are on sale now, and every corner's coffee shop is still serving festive peppermint goods of every shape and form.
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[Nothing like this. This whole place is full of new things. Not that there isn't a lot new to Sorey in general, after his more sheltered upbringing, but even so. He's amazed, curious as he turns his attention to his surroundings once the train has passed and he resumes following her into the cafe.]
It smells good, whatever it is. The noise, I guess I'll get used to. But for now I can still hear you just fine.
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[ She picks a booth well into the café, one with a window that looks out onto the street. ]
And . . . where are you from? My home . . . it's a lot like here, just a little earlier, if you look at a calendar.
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[But he knows everyone has their individual preferences. Sorey's just never been a picky eater himself, quite willing to at least try anything at least once. There's a lot new that he's been eating as he travels, even back home. He follows her, putting his file down at the table next to him as he looks around a bit, taking in the atmosphere before answering.]
Where? Oh. I'm from Glenwood. Elysia, actually. Though it's...hard to say what the date would be in comparison to this place.
[He can only imagine how much more history there would be, if this place is so much more advanced.]
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[ She goes up to the counter, coming back a minute later with two sandwiches (one piled high with roast beef, the other with roasted veggies and turkey), two cups of steaming tea, and two glasses of water.
There's also a pair of chocolate chip cookies slipped in there, courtesy of the grinning barista. ]
Is Elysia the name of your country, or your world?
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[And just as he had figured, after her mentioning and asking about his food preferences, she returns with a couple of plates and some cups. He eyes the food eagerly, only now really feeling how famished and exhausted he is after the recent events back home.]
Thanks! I'm starving! [And then, after a bite of his sandwich, he answers, trying to explain.]
Elysia is the village I grew up in with Gramps and Mikleo and the other seraphim. Glenwood is the name of our world.
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and the plate slips from her fingers, clattering to the table. He couldn't mean . . . he didn't just say . . . ]
Ser- . . .
[ No. She. She can do this. Swallow. Deep breath. ]
S-seraphim?
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[Still, she wouldn't be the first to be startled, or potentially hesitant or disbelieving. Most humans were more preoccupied with their own lives, with the growing tensions between Rolance and Hyland to think about seraphim they couldn't see or hear.]
Why? You can see them too? You okay?
[Whatever answer she expected, evidently Sorey's wasn't it, from the way she drops the plate, that tension.]
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[ She's not fine. She is the least amount of fine but this morning she was giving a sacred beast ear scritches so maybe it's only fair that the boy across from her was raised by angels.
Sister Prima's lectures never prepared her for this. ]
I can't . . . see anything like that. We just have stories . . .
It's . . . in those, seraphim are the beings closest to God. They're angels, or fiery serpents . . . it's not . . . always really clear.
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[He should probably leave it at that for now and not go into the whole 'seraphs can become dragons' thing. Though most humans consider seraph the stuff of legends and myth, not realizing they live among some of them in the towns, especially as Sorey found a few to help give some towns their Blessing.]
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But for you, they're people, right? That's the more important thing.
[ She nudges her sandwich back into order, pulling it properly in front of her. ]
Is Mikleo a friend?
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[He swallows another bite of his sandwich and takes a sip of drink before answering about his best friend.]
Mikleo's my best friend! We grew up together with Gramps, he raised both of us.
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[ It's personal territory, suddenly, and she hadn't meant it to be. It takes her a moment to put her next words together, and even then, she goes slowly, trying to feel them out. ]
. . . do you have legends, where you're from? Stories that have . . . the ideas of people, but no matter how many stories you hear, it's not really meeting them. Not like knowing they like sweet things better than savoury, or what they look like when they smile, or they always like sleeping with their feet outside of the blankets.
I just meant . . . it's that kind of difference.
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[Just that they used to be able to really co-exist with humans. He can only hope things eventually improve to that point again. Surely, his being raised in Elysia alongside Mikleo and the rest were proof it is still possible.]
But I think I get what you mean. It's one thing to read about something. But to actually see it yourself....or hear about it from someone with first hand experience.
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But all of this . . . it's personal, isn't it? And you're brand new here, too . . . You should really be the one asking questions, not me. If there's anything you'd like to ask, I mean.
[ She picks up her sandwich, finally, even if she's still not overly sure about taking a bite. ]
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[Sure, he gathered a bit from his initial arrival, and the file. But there's still a lot about this place that Sorey's never encountered before. Even the sheer size of it, the number of humans around, it's staggering even in comparison to Ladylake or Pendrago, if he'd made it that far back home before getting pulled in by the Porter.]
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It's . . . okay, if it's a little overwhelming. Everyone feels that, I think . . . at least a little.
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[Because as much as Sorey tries to take on himself, he's never actually alone. There are others he can ask or lean on for support. Advice, answers. If he'd let them help him. Here, in a completely different world from Glenwood, he'll need to.
He can't help giving a sheepish smile even as he then wipes at his mouth a bit from the sandwich.]
But I'm sure I'll figure it out. Especially if there's a library or something. I'd probably check there before asking the million questions I have already.